Ex-Intel man accused of taking secrets to AMD

[JPB]

Ex-Intel man accused of taking secrets to AMD

AN ENGINEER WHO moved from Intel over to rival chip maker AMD has been accused by the FBI of nicking top secret files on the way out the door.

According to FBI agent Timothy Russell, an ex-design engineer at Intel's Hudson plant named Biswahoman Pani thought he might try impress his new bosses at AMD by copying a raft of classified Intel design documents before scooting over to his new job.

According to the filing in the Boston US District Court, 13 files containing over 100 pages of top secret documentation and 19 drawings were found during a search of Pani's house in July.

The FBI was tipped off by another Intel employee who, on discovering Pani's planned move to the competition, ordered a log of his system access before he left.

"Intellectual property is a critical asset for Intel," said spokesIntel, Claudine Mangano.

"We basically asked the Department of Justice and the FBI to investigate activities, and we are cooperating with that investigation."

The affidavit also let AMD off the hook, saying the investigation had found no evidence that the company had encouraged or even knew of Pani's alleged industrial espionage. There is also no evidence that it got its hands on the designs either.

Thus far Pani's attorney, Bradford Bailey, has said his client "maintains his innocence and plans to vigourously defend against these accusations."

Pani was not taken into custody, but has been ordered to give up his passport and now no longer works at either AMD or Intel.

 

[PottedMeat]

Pani was not taken into custody, but has been ordered to give up his passport and now no longer works at either AMD or Intel.

Hahaha smooth move. Probably if he even hinted that he took internal documents and was going to use them AMD would turn his ass in to Intel.

 

[apoppin]

TheInq's reporting sux

here is the *source*

http://www.boston.com/business...rker_accused_in_theft/

 

[AmberClad]

I've read several stories about this, and I'm still confused about the wife. He originally said that he missed his wife. So, then Intel agreed to have both transferred to the same office. But then he immediately quits anyway? That's the part that has me confused. Was the "job dissatisfaction" thing supposed to be a cover story for his eventual resignation, only he didn't count on Intel actually making concessions?

Strange story in any case. Wondering how much the job at AMD was worth, compared to the old job.

 

[Cogman]

Originally posted by: PottedMeat

Pani was not taken into custody, but has been ordered to give up his passport and now no longer works at either AMD or Intel.

Hahaha smooth move. Probably if he even hinted that he took internal documents and was going to use them AMD would turn his ass in to Intel.

Aye. I have a hard time believing that AMD would risk their company over some CPU improvement that would give INTEL the ability to sue them into the ground. For an engineer this guy wasn't all that bright.

Now if he just memorized the stuff, they might have been safe, but as is he made a pretty boneheaded move.

 

[apoppin]

Originally posted by: AmberClad
I've read several stories about this, and I'm still confused about the wife. He originally said that he missed his wife. So, then Intel agreed to have both transferred to the same office. But then he immediately quits anyway? That's the part that has me confused. Was the "job dissatisfaction" thing supposed to be a cover story for his eventual resignation, only he didn't count on Intel actually making concessions?

Strange story in any case. Wondering how much the job at AMD was worth, compared to the old job.

What motivates a THIEF?

he might be a decent engineer but he is missing important stuff inside - kinda stupid, really

who cares?
- he is heading for jail; he might not miss his wife there
:Q

 

[extra]

Originally posted by: Cogman

Originally posted by: PottedMeat

Pani was not taken into custody, but has been ordered to give up his passport and now no longer works at either AMD or Intel.

Hahaha smooth move. Probably if he even hinted that he took internal documents and was going to use them AMD would turn his ass in to Intel.

Aye. I have a hard time believing that AMD would risk their company over some CPU improvement that would give INTEL the ability to sue them into the ground. For an engineer this guy wasn't all that bright.

Now if he just memorized the stuff, they might have been safe, but as is he made a pretty boneheaded move.

They wouldn't lol, they would have turned his sorry ass in to intel and called the feds immediately. Intel would do the same thing if someone came with corporate secrets from amd. They have plenty of ways to get things legally, and they use them.

 

[Idontcare]

Originally posted by: apoppin

Originally posted by: AmberClad
I've read several stories about this, and I'm still confused about the wife. He originally said that he missed his wife. So, then Intel agreed to have both transferred to the same office. But then he immediately quits anyway? That's the part that has me confused. Was the "job dissatisfaction" thing supposed to be a cover story for his eventual resignation, only he didn't count on Intel actually making concessions?

Strange story in any case. Wondering how much the job at AMD was worth, compared to the old job.

What motivates a THIEF?

he might be a decent engineer but he is missing important stuff inside - kinda stupid, really

who cares?
- he is heading for jail; he might not miss his wife there
:Q

Sums it up nicely. Something is wrong with the guy at the center of the controversy. All the rest of the story;s details are just ancillary (whether they are reported correctly or not).

 

[pm]

First, we should remember he is accused of this crime - he hasn't been found guilty. We don't know the whole story, but he should be presumed innocent.

That said, there are two facts that are both employment violations: he lied about his new employer and he had a job "overlap" with another company. Both of these are not allowed at Intel - you can't be paid for working a full-time job at Intel while simultaneously working a full-time job with another company. You also are supposed to immediately tell HR when you accept (not when you start, when you accept) a job working for a direct competitor. As soon as you tell them, they lock you out of the computer system and immediately give you an exit interview and walk you out the door (you can try to give two weeks notice, but for a competitor, you leave immediately). When he said he was quitting to work for a hedge fund, he was given two weeks - if he'd mentioned AMD, he'd have had less than 15 minutes.

I don't Biswahoman myself, but I was talking in the hallway yesterday to someone who does. He said he seemed like a normal enough guy. I hope he has a good lawyer. But even so, he's lost his job and he's almost certain to be deported (he's not a US citizen). Even if he's found not to have had malicious intent, this issue is going to result in a huge life change for him and his wife. And if he's found guilty, then it will be much worse.


* Not speaking for Intel Corporation.

 

[Idontcare]

Originally posted by: pm
First, we should remember he is accused of this crime - he hasn't been found guilty. We don't know the whole story, but he should be presumed innocent.

That said, there are two facts that are both employment violations: he lied about his new employer and he had a job "overlap" with another company.

Aren't your facts just allegations, unproven as yet in a court of law, and thus by purporting them to be truth in your post you are violating your own statement requesting presumed innocence until proven guilt by the authorities of the land?

 

[Cogman]

Originally posted by: pm
First, we should remember he is accused of this crime - he hasn't been found guilty. We don't know the whole story, but he should be presumed innocent.

That said, there are two facts that are both employment violations: he lied about his new employer and he had a job "overlap" with another company. Both of these are not allowed at Intel - you can't be paid for working a full-time job at Intel while simultaneously working a full-time job with another company. You also are supposed to immediately tell HR when you accept (not when you start, when you accept) a job working for a direct competitor. As soon as you tell them, they lock you out of the computer system and immediately give you an exit interview and walk you out the door (you can try to give two weeks notice, but for a competitor, you leave immediately). When he said he was quitting to work for a hedge fund, he was given two weeks - if he'd mentioned AMD, he'd have had less than 15 minutes.

I don't Biswahoman myself, but I was talking in the hallway yesterday to someone who does. He said he seemed like a normal enough guy. I hope he has a good lawyer. But even so, he's lost his job and he's almost certain to be deported (he's not a US citizen). Even if he's found not to have had malicious intent, this issue is going to result in a huge life change for him and his wife. And if he's found guilty, then it will be much worse.


* Not speaking for Intel Corporation.

Man, its awesome having an Intel engineer as a AT resident. It always seems to bring new light to the way things work in intel land.

 

[pm]

Aren't your facts just allegations, unproven as yet in a court of law, and thus by purporting them to be truth in your post you are violating your own statement requesting presumed innocence until proven guilt by the authorities of the land?

I don't know. I'm an engineer, not a lawyer. In reply to you, I tried to justify my" facts" - but you are right, they are what I've heard to be facts by talking to my co-workers. You maybe a good point. On the plus side, I know that I chose my profession wisely. I don't think I'd make a good lawyer. Or maybe it just takes practice.

Still despite my mixing up of legal terms, I stand by my point - which is that he's not a "thief", he's an "accused thief". And there is a difference in my mind - not just a legal difference but a difference in how I feel about the guy.


* Still not speaking for Intel Corporation

 

[Idontcare]

Originally posted by: pm
I stand by my point - which is that he's not a "thief", he's an "accused thief".

Which if you drill down even further is questionable in itself. We are talking about this because The Inquirer printed a story on it after all.

For all we know, and we should know better than to think we do know, this is complete bullshit of yet another variety from "media" sources of known repute.

Which to me is even worse, this guy (if he even exists) could actually stand to not be accused of anything by anyone of any authority, all any of us know is there is story (fiction or nonfiction, who's to say) here being pushed to drum up the page views for ad revenue. Be it at TheINQ or some boston globe paper co.

Wouldn't be the first time someone makes up complete bullshit in journalism thinking it will help them keep their job one day longer.

 

[taltamir]

During an interview with the FBI on July 23, Pani admitted to obtaining the files, but said he had done so out of curiosity and to assist his wife in preparing for her new job at the Hudson plant.

Russell said there is no evidence AMD knew of Pani's actions or encouraged them. Neither is there evidence that AMD ever received the confidential Intel files.

Pani had been hired to work at the AMD chip design center, but is no longer employed by the company, according to his attorney, R. Bradford Bailey.

 

[TuxDave]

Looks like he didn't take his yearly Code of Conduct and Information Security classes at Intel...

 

[sjwaste]

Originally posted by: pm

Aren't your facts just allegations, unproven as yet in a court of law, and thus by purporting them to be truth in your post you are violating your own statement requesting presumed innocence until proven guilt by the authorities of the land?

I don't know. I'm an engineer, not a lawyer. In reply to you, I tried to justify my" facts" - but you are right, they are what I've heard to be facts by talking to my co-workers. You maybe a good point. On the plus side, I know that I chose my profession wisely. I don't think I'd make a good lawyer. Or maybe it just takes practice.

Still despite my mixing up of legal terms, I stand by my point - which is that he's not a "thief", he's an "accused thief". And there is a difference in my mind - not just a legal difference but a difference in how I feel about the guy.


* Still not speaking for Intel Corporation

Keep in mind, also, that violating a corporate policy is not a violation of law. Lying about where you're leaving for, and overlapping employment aren't proscribed by law. They just give the employer for-cause reasons to fire him if necessary.

 

[Idontcare]

Originally posted by: sjwaste
They just give the employer for-cause reasons to fire him if necessary.

And in plenty-o-cases they actually infringe on the state/federal rights of the employee and actually result in the employee winning the lottery lawsuit/settlement wise.

 

[apoppin]

Originally posted by: pm

Aren't your facts just allegations, unproven as yet in a court of law, and thus by purporting them to be truth in your post you are violating your own statement requesting presumed innocence until proven guilt by the authorities of the land?

I don't know. I'm an engineer, not a lawyer. In reply to you, I tried to justify my" facts" - but you are right, they are what I've heard to be facts by talking to my co-workers. You maybe a good point. On the plus side, I know that I chose my profession wisely. I don't think I'd make a good lawyer. Or maybe it just takes practice.

Still despite my mixing up of legal terms, I stand by my point - which is that he's not a "thief", he's an "accused thief". And there is a difference in my mind - not just a legal difference but a difference in how I feel about the guy.


* Still not speaking for Intel Corporation

technically you are completely correct

he could have been set up

 

[demiurge3141]

looking at how amd is going, this guy is doing a pretty bad job

 

[Falloutboy]

don't people who have access to this type of information have a no compete clause in there contract? something like if you leave the company you can't work for a competitor for several years?

 

[Idontcare]

Originally posted by: Falloutboy
don't people who have access to this type of information have a no compete clause in there contract? something like if you leave the company you can't work for a competitor for several years?

Yes but non-compete clauses tend to contain terms that violate local state laws. I have personally known many friends who change jobs from one vendor to another (tool suppliers) in what would seem to violate their non-compete clause only to have the any number of extenuating circumstances for their situation invalidate the non-compete clause.

For instance no non-compete clause can wholesale restrict an employee from working for a competitor by name. (Intel's non-compete cannot state "no working for AMD") It can merely state that the employee cannot work in the exact same job function at a competitor for a pre-defined period of time (again the max allowed here varies by state, some states are zero like Texas, others are 2 yrs).

So for example a fab process engineer who works in the Etch and Plasma group at Intel would have no issue going to work with AMD as a fab process engineer in the Lithography group (unless they worked for Intel in Texas, in which case they could go straight to AMD's Etch and Plasma group if they wanted).

It's complicated for one reason and one reason only, unions. The employers do NOT want to make the issue so pressing that it drives a critical mass of employees in the industry towards the open arms of the unions who would most definitely put an end to the practice of non-compete clauses. On the other hand the employers do want to have some manner of protection should people waaaay up on the payscale move to the competition.

Microsoft doesn't want the program manager for the XBOX 720 to suddenly move to Sony and become the program manager for the PS4. So they would probably invest money into their legal team to pursue enforcing the non-compete clause in such a case.

But if an engineer or a entry-level manager were to make the same migration there would probably be zero follow-up on it as Microsoft would want to pick their battles wisely, and is also part of the reason engineers and low-level management are never given big picture insight into the program (although they tend to think they do, and like to blather to TheINQ and FUDzilla as if they do...).